Methods for automatically replying to phone calls and text messages

Abstract

A method of automatically replying to incoming phone calls is provided. The method includes enabling automatic reply on a cellular phone of a user; generating a voice message for the automatic reply; associating the voice message with at least one phone number; detecting the at least one number when an incoming call from the at least one phone number is received at the cellular phone; and playing the voice message associated with the at least one number to a person making the incoming call from the at least one phone number without requiring manual input from the user of the cellular phone when the incoming call from the at least one phone number is being received. A method of automatically replying to incoming text messages is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of automatically replying to incoming phone calls, the method comprising:
 enabling automatic reply on a cellular phone of a user;   generating a voice message for the automatic reply;   associating the voice message with at least one phone number;   detecting the at least one number when an incoming call from the at least one phone number is received at the cellular phone; and   playing the voice message associated with the at least one number to a person making the incoming call from the at least one phone number without requiring manual input from the user of the cellular phone when the incoming call from the at least one phone number is being received.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enabling of the automatic reply further comprises silencing a ringer associated with the incoming phone call on the cellular phone. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enabling of the automatic reply on the cellular phone includes enabling the automatic reply on the cellular phone prior to the incoming phone call being received at the cellular phone. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating of the voice message further comprises storing a plurality of voice messages on the cellular phone and selecting one of the plurality of voice messages stored on the cellular phone. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating of the voice message further comprises recording a new voice message for storage on the cellular phone. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the associating of the voice message with the at least one phone number further comprises defining a single phone number for receiving the voice message when calling the cellular phone of the user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the associating of the voice message with the at least one phone number further comprises defining a group of phone numbers for receiving the voice message when calling the cellular phone of the user. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the group of numbers is selected from one or more of the following groups: family, friends, acquaintances, and work-related. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting of the at least one number when a call is received at the cellular phone comprises detecting a name associated with the at least one number calling the cellular phone. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the playing of the voice message associated with the at least one number includes playing the voice message automatically after a predetermined number of incoming phone rings. 
     
     
         11 . A method of automatically replying to incoming text messages, the method comprising:
 enabling automatic reply on a cellular phone of a user;   generating a text message for the automatic reply;   associating the text message with at least one phone number;   detecting the at least one number when an incoming text from the at least one phone number is received at the cellular phone; and   sending the text message associated with the at least one number to a person that sent the incoming text from the at least one number without requiring manual input from the user of the cellular phone after the incoming text message from the at least one phone number is received.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the enabling of the automatic reply further comprises silencing one of a sound function and vibrate function on the cellular phone associated with the incoming text message. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the enabling of the automatic reply on the cellular phone includes enabling the automatic reply prior to the incoming text message being received at the cellular phone. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the generating of the text message further comprises storing a plurality of text messages on the cellular phone and selecting one of the plurality of text messages stored on the cellular phone. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the generating of the text message further comprises inputting a new text message for storage on the cellular phone. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the associating of the text message with the at least one phone number further comprises defining a single phone number for receiving the text message when sending a text message to the cellular phone of the user. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the associating of the text message with the at least one phone number further comprises defining a group of phone numbers for receiving the text message when sending a text message to the cellular phone of the user. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the group of phone numbers is defined from a list of contacts of the user stored on the cellular phone. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the group of numbers is selected from one or more of the following groups: family, friends, acquaintances, and work-related. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the detecting of the at least one number when a text message is received at the cellular phone comprises detecting a name associated with the at least one number from which the incoming text message is sent to the cellular phone.